Abstract: A cant turner has several discrete laterally aligned cant turning stations spaced laterally across the width of a transfer. At each station the turner has two arms that rotate independently about a corresponding shaft. The arms can be selectively oriented in-line with each other or can be set to be at an angle, for example ninety degrees to each other. When in-line and horizontal, the arms allow a cant to pass over the laterally aligned stations without interruption. When one of the arms is elevated, for example, vertically, that arm acts as a hook stop and stops cants from further translation downstream. With a cant stopped against an elevated arm, when both arms rotate in unison the cant may be forwardly turned ninety degrees and allowed to progress down the transfer.

Abstract: The sliding blade microtome is a tissue specimen cutting device including a specimen syringe and an adjustable cutting mechanism for diagonally slicing the specimen. The specimen syringe is a cylindrical shaft having a first end and a second end for holding and supporting a specimen. The first end has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the shaft, forming a compressed lip for applying pressure on the specimen prior to slicing by the blade. The pressure used to compress the gelatin and the specimen holds the gelatin and the specimen in a sturdy position to slice the specimen to precision without chatter marks. The specimen is pushed out of the first end of the specimen syringe by a motor mechanism or a manually adjustable micrometer drive.

Abstract: A device and method for severing fasteners securing deck boards to pallet runners. A band saw extends across a table recess. The band saw is spaced above the tabletop aligning the saw between the deck boards and runners. The recess includes stop surfaces enabling the pallet to be pivoted from a horizontal position through a vertical position and then to an upside down position while the saw blade remains within the pallet for severing fasteners securing the opposite top deck board from the pallet.

Abstract: A device and method for severing fasteners securing deck boards to pallet runners. A band saw extends across a table recess. The band saw is spaced above the tabletop aligning the saw between the deck boards and runners. The recess includes stop surfaces enabling the pallet to be pivoted from a horizontal position through a vertical position and then to an upside down position while the saw blade remains within the pallet for severing fasteners securing the opposite top deck board from the pallet.

Abstract: A boring tool assembly is provided and has a cutting tool mounted on one end thereof and permits the boring of a straight hole through a member. The boring tool assembly includes a boring bar having integral guide members disposed thereon that follows behind the cutting tool and maintains contact with the machined surface just cut in order to keep the cutting tool in proper alignment. To permit the continued use of the boring bar after the outer diameter of the cutting tool has been reduced due to wear, each of the integral guide members are resiliently mounted on the boring bar. This permits the guide members to collapses inwardly to maintain a perfect fit with the pilot pore. This collapse inwardly of the guide members is important to maintain bearing contact of the guide members with the pilot bore if the hole being cut by the cutting tool reduces in size due to wear or if the cutting tool has been re-sharpened or replaced with a different cutting tool.

Abstract: A centrifugal slicer is provided with an in-feed apparatus for feeding one item of produce at a time to be sliced. The in-feed apparatus includes a block with a channel having an inlet at the center of the slicer impeller for gravity feed of items to be sliced to an outlet located at a single area on the periphery of the slicer impeller.

Abstract: A method of opening an envelope along three edges, in which the envelope is moved to an opening or edge removing device along a supply path, one edge being guided along said device for cutting open or removing the edge. Next, the envelope is rotated through 90.degree. to be subsequently guided again along the opening or edge removing device for opening the second edge, which cycle is repeated for the third edge. An apparatus for performing this method includes a housing having an inlet path leading to the supply path along which the opening or edge removing device is arranged, a first set of members for moving and guiding the envelope co-extensively with the inlet path, and a second set of members for moving and guiding the envelope in a direction perpendicular to the inlet path along the opening or edge removing device, and a third set of members for guiding and moving the envelope along a quarter-circular path, which returns the envelope, turned 90 degrees, to the first set of members in the inlet path.

Abstract: A holder for a circular saw blade to permit sharpening of the blade on a sharpener. The holder comprises a bed to receive the saw blade. The blade can be positioned on the bed. There is a slot in the bed and a table. A further slot is formed in the table. A bolt or the like extends through the slots to releasably attach the table and the bed to allow pivoting of the bed relative to the table. The angle of presentation of the blade on the holder to the sharpener is controlled. The holder is simple to operate and easily adjusted.

Abstract: An improved assembly for aligning elongate pieces of wood such as cants on a roller conveyor and for rotating them about their lengthwise axes includes a plurality of kicker arms extending radially from a rotatable shaft up between the rollers of the conveyor, so that rotation of the shaft allows the kicker arms to press a cant against a guide plate extending along one side of the conveyor surface. A plurality of pusher arms slidingly mounted on the kicker arms and extendable to engage a lower corner of the cant to rotate the same.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for making a shingle from a block of wood. The block of wood is canted and a shingle is sawed from this block of wood. The shingle has a thick end and a thin end. After the shingle has been sawed, the block of wood is moved away from the saw and canted at a new angle with respect to the saw. Then, the block of wood is moved toward the saw and another shingle is sawed. This process is repeated to form shingles from a block of wood.